Automatic window-closing device.



D. MAOVIGAR & G. A. MAGAW.

AUTOMATIO WINDOW GLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.1,1907.

Patented Dec.29,1908.

Witwwoeo:

11 id sash,

DANA MAeVICAR AND CHARLES A. MAGAW, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW-CLOSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908 Application filed August 1, 1907. Serial No. 386,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANA MAcVIoAR and CHARLES A. MAGAW, citizens of the United States, residing at To eka, in the county of Shawnee and b'tate 0 Kansas, have invents ed certain new and useful Im rovements in Automatic Window-Closing evices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to a window or sash attachment, and though susceptible of a variety of adaptations is more particularly designed for use in connection with a vertically movable sash, and has for its object the rovision of instrumentalities for causing t e WlIldOW or sash, reviously opened to automatically drop or clbse at the desired time.

More articularly, the invention relates to an attac ment of the character stated which is set into operation or actuated under the influence of moisture, as caused by a rain storm or the like.

'I he invention also includes means for normally holdin the window or sash in opened position, and means for im artin': a slight ar to the window or sash w en released by said holding means, so as to obviate frictional contact of the sash with the guide groove or window frame.

The inventionalso comprises novel details of structure and arrangement of parts more particularly to be ointed out hereinafter.

A preferable em odiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

forming a part hereof.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a window frame artl in section, with our attachment ap ied t ereto, and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detai views of parts of the attachment removed.

Again referrin to the drawings, wherein like reference 0 ara'cters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A designates a window frame of any of the ordinary constructions, and having guide grooves a. Slidably mounted in the guide grooves of the frame, is a window or sash B raving mounted upon its opposite sides, preferably intermediate its ends, rings C, of any desired construction. T) represents a strap formed of leather or the like secured at one end to the side of the sash, preferably to the ring C, and at its opposite end to a weight E conveniently formed of a sack filled with shot, although any of the usual forms of Wei ht may be utilized. Also secured to-sai weight at its connection with said stra is a rope, cord, or chain F which passes t rough the ring. C, and thence through a guide ring G secured to the top of the window frame, the free end of the cord being connected in a manner about to be described to the said frame. The cord F when thus connected normally holds the window in a raised or elevated position,

The free ends of the cords F are connected to one another and to a hook or other attaching device H which is adapted to carry a looking member comprising a ring I and ties 1'. connected to the rm at separated points and to said hook H. T e ring I is cut away at one side for the insertion of a cooperating locking member K preferably comprising a bulb of suitable material ada ted to be reduced in size when acted upon y moisture as from a rain storm. L is a tie membersecured to said bulb K at one end and at its opposite end to the bottom of the win ow frame A. As before suggested, the bulb K interlocks with the ring 1 and when acted upon by moisture will reduce in size thus automatically releasing itself from the interlocking enga ement with said ring.

t will be observed upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2, that when the cord F is in osition to hold the window in elevated position, the weights E are elevated nearly into contact with the ring C, the straps D being flexible and ada ted to bucklcjfor this pu ose. It follows tliat when the cords F are re eased by the locking device, the weights will instantly drop for a distance governed by the length of the straps D, thus causing an initial jar to the sash which will release any friction which ma exist between the sash and frame. The sas now actin" under the-influence of said wei hts E will fall to its closed osition.

hilc we do not wish to be limited to the articular construction of bulb K, yet we ave found it advantageous to construct the same of a ball of effervescent substance, such as effervescent salt, wra ped in thin cloth or gauze, the margins of w ich are brou ht to gcther in such a manner that a neck is ormed to which the tie L is secured.

While it is within thecontempl-ationof the invention to use a bulb K of any desired construction having the result sought, yet we have found a gauze bag filled with granular efi'ervescing salts to be particularly advantageous and successful, and while we do not wish .to be limited to a y particular granular effervescent salt, w preferably em loy granular efi'ervescent sodium hospiiate which material has been used witiigood results, but as before stated there are a number of chemicals or salts thatmight be placed in the (gauze be which would produce the desire result w on comin in contact with watar, as for instance the ollowing compound, in granular form, viz: tar-taric acid 4 oz., pulverizedalum, 8 oz., sodium bi-carbonate, 12 oz. Or a mixture of tar-taric acid and sodium bi-carbonate or a mixture of alum and sodium bi-carbonate.

The operation from the above description is obvious.

What we claim is:

1. The combination of a window frame, a sash slidably mounted therein, means tending to normally close the sash and lockin means for holding the window open, sai locking means comprising members fitted one within the other and secured respectively to the frame and sash, one of said members adapted to be r uced in size and thereby released under th influence of moisture.

2. In an attachment of the character described, means for normally holding a sash in open position com rising a contractible bulb and a ring sleeve thereon, one of which is adapted to be connected with the sash and the other withthe sash frame, the said ring.

and bulb adapted to be automatically released from one another, by external mflu-- ence.

3. An attachment for window sashes and the like, including holding means comprisin a bulb formed of effervescent substance, an a ring sleeved onthe bulb, one of said parts being adapted tofbe secured to a window frame and the other-adapted to be secured to the sash, the said arts being so arranged that when the bulb is acted upon bymoisture the ring will automatically be released therefrom and allow the sash to be closed.

4. A window closing device comprising a weight carried by the window, a holding and releasing means for the wei ht, comprising a bulb adapted to be reduce ins'ize when operated upon bly moisture, a cord secured to the wei t an carrying a rin sleeved upon said bu b and normal y hei holding means for the bulb.

5. An attachment for window sashes comthereby, and

prising means secured thereto for closing the to the sash and having connection with said bulb and adapted to be released by the contraction of said bulb.

6. In combination, a frame, a .movable sash, a bulb adapted to be reduced in size under the influence of moisture, a support for the bulb, means for causing the closing of the sash when released and means for normally holding the sash open comprising a cord sscured at one end to the sash and 'assin through a guide on the frame, said gui e, an means for connecting the free endof the cord to said bulb whereby it is released upon the 7b bulb being reduced in size.

7. An attachment for sliding sashes comrising a wei ht secured thereto causing the owering of t e sash when released, a guide ring ada ted to be secured to the to of the window rams, means for normally olding the sash in elevated position comprising an elongated cord adapted to be secured to the sides of the sash and to pass through said guide ring, and a locking device for said cord com rising a bulb ada ted to be Secured to theottom of the win ow frame and having an engagement with said cord releasable by the action of moisture upon said bulb.

8. An attachment for window sashes comprising means for normally holding the sash open including a gas generating mass susceptible to the action 0 moisture and adapted to be connected with the sash and frame whereby when the as is generated thesash 96 will be released and closing means therefor comprising a weight secured respectively to said sash and holding means.

9. In a window closing device, and in combination with the window, means acting un- 100 der the influence ofxnoisture for releasingthe sa'me, comprising a sash closing element and a controlling gas generating mass therefor susce tible to the action of moisture to vary the size thereof to release and pefmit automatic closing of the window.

10. A window closing device comprising a I member ddapted to be secured to a window frame and a member a'dapted to be secured to the window, the said members bein fitted one to the other to constitute an inter ocking connection, one of said members comprising a gas enerating mass susceptible to the action 0% moisture to vary the size thereof and thereby release its 006 ratin member and permit the closing of t e win ow.

In testimony whereof we aflh; our signatures in presence of two witnesses:

DANA MACVICAR. CHARLES A. MAGAW.

Witnesses:

JENNIE LEE.MCCLENAHAN, Geo. P. HAYDEN. 

